Saturday, November 12, 2011

On My Bookshelves #8 (11/12 - 11/14)




This new weekend feature highlights the books
that we have purchased, and put off reading
until we finished our current ones...
except that we somehow never did get to them!

This book meme will also highlight
those wonderful books we have already read,
and would love to re-read!!

If you'd like to join in, write your own post,
grab my meme button (or create your own),
and add your post link to the list!
Have fun hopping over to other blogs to see what
books others want to either read or re-read!




Here's my list for this week!






(The Original Shannara Trilogy #1)
Terry Brooks
Trade Paperback, 736 pages
Orbit
January 3, 2006
(first published in 1977)
Genre: Fantasy

From the Goodreads Synopsis

 Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil had ruined the world and forced mankind to compete with many other races--gnomes, trolls, dwarfs, and elves. But in peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knew little of such troubles.

Then came the giant, forbidding Allanon, possessed of strange Druidic powers, to reveal that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destroy the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could be used only by a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline, rested the hope of all the races.


This book's cover was created by
the Hildebrandt brothers, who also did
a lot of Tolkien LOTR calendars,
so of course it pulled me in right away!
Then I postponed reading the novel because I thought
it sounded too much like Tolkien's
great fantasy trilogy.
Well, it's probably time for me to
give this author the benefit of the doubt,
since this was the start of a very succesful series!






Editors: Lester del Rey, Rita Kessler
Hardcover, 336 pages
Del Rey/Ballantine Books
(compilation by Random House)
October 23, 1991
Genre: YA Fantasy


From the Amazon Synopsis

This collection of 10 well written stories nicely illustrates the concept that fairy tale themes are universal, and that modern fantasy writers can give them a sophisticated, psychological and realistic approach while still providing a sense of wonder for all ages. In Barbara Hambly's Changeling, a hard-working Marchlord slays the dragon devastating his countryside and brings home to his wife and children what he finds in its lair: a mute child with two unusual companions. Anne McCaffrey's "The Quest of a Sensible Man" features a prince who seeks a suitable mate for his flying horse.

The eponymous "Thistledown" in Susan Dexter's tale is a unicorn colt saved from from predatory hounds by a mute boy suspected of witchcraft. The spoiled princess in "The Fairy Godmother," by Lester del Rey, learns the rudiments of wise rule when she is taken in by an old couple after an attempted abduction. In Wayland Drew's "The Old Soul," an old woman's tale of the fall of a powerful city jolts three travelers out of their self-important lives.



This is another treasure I have yet to read!
How could I have postponed this one?
It's a collection sure to delight
the heart of every fantasy lover,
among which I proudly count myself!!
Maybe if I wave my Harry Potter wand around,
I will magically have more time to read
all the wonderful books I have in my
personal library....







Marge Piercy
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Fawcett
November 12, 1985
Genre: Science Fiction


From the Goodreads Synopsis

Connie Ramos, a woman in her mid-thirties, has been declared insane. But Connie is overwhelmingly sane, merely tuned to the future, and able to communicate with the year 2137. As her doctors persuade her to agree to an operation, Connie struggles to force herself to listen to the future and its lessons for today....

From an Amazon Editorial Review

The novel shifts between the horrible conditions in psychiatric wards and the year 2137, as Connie at first talks to, then time travels with Luciente, a person from that future time. Luciente lives in a non-sexist, communal country where people's survival is ensured based on need, not money. A sense of freedom, choice, and safety are part of Luciente's world; Connie's world is the complete opposite. Though Connie struggles to stand up for herself and others in the treatment centers, she knows that the drugs she is forced to take weaken her in every way. She knows she shouldn't be there, knows how to play the game...But she knows she is stuck. Connie spends more time "away" with Luciente, trying to develop a way out of her hell. Ultimately Connie makes her plan of action, and the book leaves us with our own questions about Connie's insanity and decisions. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Holly Smith




It really bothers me that I haven't
gotten to this novel yet!!
The plot sounds absolutely rivetiing,
not just because there's a lot of conflict,
but because this is a novel of ideas
as much as it is one of action.
The status of women in society is a topic
dear to my heart,
and I love reading novels that include
psychological themes.
So I have to promise myself that
this book will soon be in my "already read" pile...







What wonderful books are waiting
for you to read them?
What beloved books would
you like to re-read?



4 comments:

  1. What a very cool blog you have! I love the background design. I love fairy tales and I really, really love Tolkien so I'm going to have to check out these books. I have one LOTR calendar. I'll have to look and see who illustrated. Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, Sharon!

    Thank you so much for complimenting my blog! That's MUSIC to my ears!!

    Oh, how fabulous that you're a Tolkien fan!! You have GREAT literary taste!

    When you take a look at that calendar, you'll probably find that the artists are, indeed, the Hildebrandt brothers.

    Thanks again for the comment!! : )

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great blog.
    I just became a follower. Hope you can come follow mine.

    Jodie @ Riverina Romantics

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, Jodie!

    Thanks for the compliment and the follow!!! I'm going over to check out your blog!! : )

    ReplyDelete

THIS IS NOW AN AWARD-FREE, AND TAG-FREE BLOG. Thanks for the compliment, though! : )

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